“A Canadian family transportation favourite, the Honda Accord sedan is a top used car choice with a solid reputation for dependably and value.”

The very first Honda Accord, introduced to Canadians back in 1976, was about the same size as today’s Civic sedan and it had a less-powerful engine.

When the eighth generation Accord was introduced in 2008, it was officially classified as a “large car” and came with a 190-horsepower 4-cylinder engine, or an even more powerful optional V6.

Eight-gen Accord did get a mild mid-life facelift for the 2011 model year and it included new front-end styling and some interior improvements. A new base SE trim line also replaced the previous LX trim.

The four-cylinder is by far the most popular engine choice of Canadians, but there was also an interesting upgrade to the optional 3.5-litre V6 in 2011. Called Variable Cylinder Management (in Sedan editions only – not Accord Coupe), this system can improve fuel economy by shutting-down two or three cylinders, during light load driving conditions. Highway fuel economy with this V6 is almost the same as the four-cylinder version of Accord.

No changes were made to Accord for the 2012 model year. The big changes came in 2013 when a landmark, smaller and lighter, all-new ninth generation Honda Accord was released.

Although lighter, the 2013 Accord is structurally stronger than the previous generation Accord and although its outer dimensions are more compact and it has a shorter wheelbase, it has more rear seat legroom and a slightly larger trunk, according to Honda.

Major changes also happened under-hood with the release of Honda’s new “Earth Dreams” engine technology. This could also be linked to a high-efficiency new CVT automatic with “G-Design Shift Logic”. This feature provides quicker acceleration, as it’s faster acting than a conventional automatic transmission.

In addition to being considerably more fuel efficient the 2.4 litre four-cylinder “Earth Dreams” editions of Accord are also super-clean running and complies with PZEV (partial zero emission vehicle) requirements in the US. This engine also supplies more power at low engine speeds, just where you need it, on take-off, on a hill or when merging into freeway traffic.

Its city/highway fuel economy ratings of 9.1/6.6 L/100 km, with the CVT, are outstanding for a family-size sedan. A 6-manual was available with the base LX and Sport trim levels and a conventional 6-automatic came with the V6 engine editions.

In addition to four-door sedan and two-door coupe models of Accord, there’s also a five-door hatchback/cross-over version called Crosstour, which was originally called Accord Crosstour when introduced in 2010. A new plug-in hybrid (sedan) version, called Accord PHEV, was also introduced in 2014. It’s powered by a new two-motor hybrid system that operates continuously through three modes; all-electric, gasoline-electric or direct-drive.

Accord sedan has consistently been a top performer in crash tests performed by both the IIHS and the NHTSA in the US. It’s also highly rated by Consumer Reports for dependability and it has better resale value retention than most in the class.

A Canadian family transportation favorite, the Honda Accord sedan is a top used car choice with a solid reputation for dependably and value.

---

Price Check: 2011 – 2014 Honda Accord (March 2015)

Year                    Edition                                                 Expect to Pay Today

2011               EX-L Sedan                                                  $16,000 to $19,000

2012               EX-L Sedan                                                  $18,000 to $22,000

2013               EX-L Sedan                                                  $21,000 to $25,000

2014               EX-L Sedan                                                  $24,000 to $28,000

Prices vary depending on a used vehicle’s condition, mileage, usage and history. A complete mechanical check should always be performed by a reliable auto technician prior to purchase.

---

Safety Recalls: 2011 to 2014 Honda Accord:

2012: The side curtain airbag inflators may have been incorrectly manufactured and, as a result, one or both airbags may not deploy as intended. Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace one or both side curtain airbag assemblies.

2013: The fuel tank may have been manufactured incorrectly and could leak gasoline. Dealers will replace the fuel tank.

Contact: bob [dot] mchugh [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca